I watched a video, today...

I watched a video, today.

I certainly didn’t have to, and I have to be truthsome a little in that I didn’t even want to. My many years scouring the internet and social media have told me to heed the warning “what has been seen cannot be unseen”. I knew that I was but a mere click away from having my world upended and all I had to do was to simply move my mouse to the next link to preserve what little sanity I had in my little world; it a tale of its own woe these days.

I could preserve my world and keep my own understanding to that of the side lines; to the plight of others I know to be bad, but not to really know how bad because I am not them, and never can be. I could preserve my sense of activism by yelling from the bleachers “NO! THIS IS WRONG!” as if that, and that alone, somehow made me right and well with the world; with my fellow citizens… with myself.

One simple shift of my wrist would take me to the latest gossip about the next super hero movie, or of adorable cats, the silly things we do in front of the watching camera phones, or of our new celebrated achievement - to circle a gas giant. And in any of these things I could escape my own perceived troubles and tell myself; “look, don’t you see? Everything’s fine. Everything’s going to turn out alright. You’ll see.”

I watched a video, today.

I certainly didn’t have to, and to be truthsome a little I should not have to summon up my courage to have to, either. And not just because what it will show me will shatter my own personal comfort; I should never have to summon courage to challenge myself in my own preconceptions. No, to the point I should be always eager to question my self-knowledge and the frontier of my own personal understanding and identity.

But I had to summon my courage because of how easy it was not to. To tell myself dismissively that again man’s apathy to his fellow man would guide an errant hand in a deed so dastardly regardless of the motivations that would drive it would be a wrong so large. I had to summon my courage because I needed to take this upon myself – as we all should – in solidarity with my fellow man, even if I can never walk not a single step in their shoes.

And not for some inherited penance, or to align myself with an agenda. No mere political ideal itself has that weight. No, I had to summon my courage because it was simply the very right thing to do. To bear witness to a tragedy, to taste this bitterness so that I can know it, own it, and be one with it. I had to summon my courage and dare to not be me, but to be those others around me, whose plight I am blind to, despite how hard I try to look.

I watched a video, today.

I certainly didn’t have to, and I have to be truthsome in that I am no stranger to death. Not in that I have a colorful tale to tell of personal heroism in the face of adversity, which would be, if not a lie, a disservice to this moment; for my survival was all but in the bag. And certainly not in the notion that, having seen country, I know a thing or two about hunting and the nature of the wild. And I know there are those who in the day to day of their lives have come to see death with a keener eye than even me.

But in such a time, and in such a place, is it fair that I should even have to ask how is it that for the simple fact of birth, some now must walk with a comfort in their proximity to a line in someone else’s world? In my world…? Never should there be a time in the days of anyone where the senselessly fallen should be an everyday occurrence of no big importance; another moment in passing between sunsets. 

The 21^st century is here and now. I don’t have a flying car. Super farming hasn’t fed the world. Men do not yet walk on distant planets. The common cold remains common. And in the day and age of information, learning, and – hopefully – understanding available at the push of a button for what should be all, there is no ground to which we can stand upon at level and be one people. And it’s not enough for me to stand upon my little ledge and call out “NO! THIS IS WRONG!” It’s only enough when I find myself upon that ground, with my fellow man, woman, and child, of all colors and all creeds, of all heritage and all histories, of every gender and no gender, of every age and every form of love, in knowing and sharing both our triumphs and our trials. And in so to drown out the cries of our detractors with the strength of our hope and fellowship.

I watched a video, today…

Good night, Alton; your path to redemption cut short.
May you travel well.

Faux Noise...

Recently, a Fairleigh Dickinson University’s PublicMind Poll found that those who watched Fox News were not only less - or worse - informed than those who watched other media outlets, but were worse informed than those who reported not to watch any news media outlet.

I found that hard to believe... until this.

You know, Ruport Murdoch and his media empire in the UK is under criminal investigations, with high ranking executives under arrest, and such. Here? Here, in the United States, he thrives.

And I'm left to wonder why...

Good night, Pinball Wizard...

Steve Kordek
Dec. 1911 to Feb. 2012

Steve Kordek didn't invent the game of pinball, he made it the game it is, today. His simple tweak on the "pin game" table revolutionized an entire entertainment industry, bringing joy to our faces, and something for The Who to sing about.

Starting at a small company called Genco, he would eventually work for both Bally, and then Williams, before it closed its pinball division, in 1999; staying on as an archivist.

He left us February 19th of this year at the age of 100, and is survived by his large and loving family.

Steve never tired of the clang, clack and buzz of pinball, once telling the Chicago tribune; “I had more fun in this business than anyone could believe."

The Conductor is for The Net...

Today we take a stand agains SOPA and PIPA. Today is the day we vote to protect free speech and the emerging new frontier of communication, commerce, and activism. Today is the day we show people where we stand.

Today we vot for The Net. Will you?

Click the badge to sign the petition, stay informed, and find who, in our governement, wants to take away your First Ammendment Right just to benefit some Hollywood execs for a few dollars in their pockets.

Nineteen eighty what?

Welcome to Amerika, citizens...

Okay, look; I do the best I can, for the most part, to make this place fun. And, while the focus is mainly about comics, cartoons, geekiness, and the like; occasionally some things come down the pipe that need our serious attention.

Such is the case of the Indefinite Detention bill that has recently passed Congress by a 93 to 7 vote... which, by the way, causes me to choke just thinking about... as it makes its way to be either vetoed or signed into law. And it's looking more than likely that this Bill of Rights crusher is going to get signed.

Why is this so awful? Well, in a nutshell, it declares the entirety of the world as a battle ground against terror, with he right to identify, and hold indefinitely, any person as a combatant.

THIS INCLUDES UNITED STATES CITIZENS ON U.S. SOIL; AND REQUIRES NO MORE THAN AN ONSITE OFFICAL TO DECLARE YOU SO.

We here at Neverland Transit Authority urge you to Tweet, blog, Facebook, email, or whatever it takes to get the word out about this egregious trespass on our civil liberties.

Remember, as Ben Franklin was said, that those who sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither.

Good night, Jerry

Jerry Robinson: Janurary 1922 to December 2011

It's not a secret: I love Batman. I love Batman, not only for who and what he is, but for how those who stand with him, and against him, define him. (And, to a degree, us, his fans and followers.)

In as much, then, I loved Jerry Robinson; who brought us both Robin the Boy Wonder - Batman's greatest ally, and The Joker - his greatest nemesis.

It's a somber night in old Gotham City. The circus is quiet, now. So, too, the asylum on the hill.

Holy Terrible...




 

I had a whole host of things I thought I wanted to say

 about Frank Miller 's latest, vacuous rant.

Richard Pace not only beat me to it, but did it so much better.

A World Wide Web of lies...

PROTECT IP Act Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

One thing we should never do is strangle freedom in the name of security. Ironic, I guess, since that's exactly what the United States government is doing, slowly but surely, to its people. The other thing we should never do is cow out to money; it won't provide us any security, either - regardless of what money tells you.

And when politics and money get together? Yeah, watch out; there goes more freedoms. 

Don't be fooled by the rhetoric. This is nothing more than a joint grab for power by the RIAA and connected politicians. The only thing that can benefit from this is increased censorship and the ruling class' ability to shut down public discourse, protest, and progress. 

As stated, there are already plenty of tools at the industry's disposal to combat the real problems of piracy. Not to mention it's all of our responsibility, as well, to be honest and do our part against piracy, as well.

Please, take a stand for freedom against more corporate greed. Read up, know, and protect our free speech and our future.

* Neverland Transit Authority supports free enterprise, fair markets, creators rights, the freedom of speech, and the right to assemble peacfully. We, however, DO NOT support piracy, and recognize its damaging effects on our industries, profits, and ablitiy to deliver quality to the consumers.

Occupied...

With all the hype from media outlets pratcially demonizing the Occupy Wallstreet movement, and its growing, global following, memebers of Fark, armed with a camera, thought it a good idea to head down and see for themselves if this was the spoiled, self entittled, group of whiners that were portrayed on the news.

Meanwhile, as the fight for our country rages on, it might be important for the rest of us to follow the example of middle America, tighten our belts, and deal.

It's a two sided front to save "The American Dream", but one worth fighting!!!

Taking the Bull by the Horns!

The Conductor, indeed all of Neverland Transit Authroity, supports the folks in New York

trying to Occupy Wall Street in the attempt to save us from greed.

Down a Dark Path?

For the past few days, I've been vexed...

I know, I know; who really uses that word, anymore? But, still it seems the most appropriate word. Because, in fact, I have been horribly vexed by an argument that I allowed myself to be goaded into by my one off fundamentalist supervisor at work; in which, we spent four hours, while I was stuck at the front desk covering for our admin, going round in circles arguing the point of his belief, and how it was true... and that was that.

How, you might ask, did I manage to let myself get duped into such a folly? By, what seemed like such an innocent question, I suppose. He was curious how I could respect my grandfather, yet so completely disagree with his choice to leave science for the family business of faith.

From there it was easy for him to expose my personal assumptions and go after them. And, as typical for the religiously devout, he did so with the typical miss informed, under educated, half baked talking points that get regurgitated by all like him. My attempting to fill in the gaps of his arguments only made him cling harder to his flawed points; which ultimately did lead to the break down of his position; not only including his flip flopping on definitions and levels of veracity of his beloved scriptures, but to also reinforce the weakness of his personal character – for which I had, just recently, tried to protect him against when management approached me with the intent to possibly terminate him.

But all of that is pretty much water under the bridge. I stood my own ,and, I feel, came out on top, in that one. No, what has been really vexing me these past couple of days has been, truly, for the first time, coming face to face with the kind of creationist half assed back talk that, until recently, I've only seen second hand via sites like Youtube. Last Friday I actually met one of the biggest plagues on, not only America, but on mankind itself.

Keep looking,
you'll find bliss in there, somewhere.

Ignorance.

Or, more to the point, the celebration of, and willful participation in, ignorance. At the heart of much of the impasse in our culture today is the total lack of understanding of facts, language, and spheres of existence outside our own comfortable settings. In America, my home country, this is practically a way of life. After all, this is the country that challenged an empire, built a new form of government, and then poured out, onto the world, it's own brand of innovation and prosperity. It's only natural, I suppose, that we've developed an arrogant attitude of superiority; as if our way is the best, and only, way to get things done.

This is playing itself out horribly on the world stage, as it's finally catching up to the United States. And, as we are ignorant of the impact of our own actions, continue down a dark path; unable, or refusing, to see that we are, in fact, fulfilling the tactics of our “enemy” - to be spread thin through multiple engagements as we spend our country to the ground. (If you think that's bad, Osama bin Laden even announced his strategy to the world, early on in our “war on terror”. And yet, ere we still are...)

At home, the practice of ignorance has led us, as a nation, to turn on each other, as conservative forces work to erode the more progressive direction our country began to take, on its own, at the closing of the last decade, and whittle away our rights, turning thr clock back on America some nearly 75 years. Fostering an atmosphere of ignorance, they have changed public opinion in frightening ways; rewriting history to demonize once valued heroes, as well as undermine the very safe guards and protections afforded us by The Constitution of the United States. In many cases, trying very hard to establish a theocracy where none was ever intended.

From sky rocketing child pregnancy in states like Texas – who implemented a religiously founded sex ed class based off of falsehoods and fear, to Utah – whose Mormon political powerhouse spent $25 million to insure California would legalize discrimination with Prop 8, to the over all declining test score of our youth – ranking us closer and closer to the bottom of the first world list each year, the Era of Ignorance is taking its toll on us all. And worse, it's spreading.

The new political tendency of the far right, in America – ignorant of various facts and education (To which I will make no claim of personal intent.), to rise up in arms and violent aggression against open discord has spread to other dangerous factions, groups, and individuals who so feel empowered to take matters into their own, under informed hands. While here in The States, kids bully and assault, and political action groups post hateful messages on websites, insighting others to violent actions, we witness despicable acts like those over the weekend in Norway; where one gunman opened fire on innocent children and a youth summer camp as a way to cut down “Fascist Jihadist”, “Marxist Liberals”, and “Muslim sympathizers” he found to be ruining his country.

It's easy to point fingers and lay blame to the left, or right. And, in fact, many have already fallen into this trap. But, for me, the real villains are pretty clear; those who would foster ignorance,and it's resulting hate, fear, and violence, as a means to any end. The end result of such an air of idiocy is harmful, if not fatal, to the progress of the nation, as well as the world.

Last week I was entrapped by, and came face to face with, the very tool – as much as he is a victim – of the new Age of Ignorance. Through him, and his like, the spirit of a nation, a people, and a species will be brought to a halt; its course ultimately reversed.

And it vexes me. How can I, as one soul, combat this, share knowledge, and end the tyranny of those so intent to undo all that we have worked so hard to achieve?

For a period of a little more than three hundred years – roughly from 700 CE to, about, 1100 CE - Baghdad, Iraq was the center of all learning in the known world. And they were on their way to unlocking all the great mysteries of the Cosmos, until on fundamentalist imam swept in with his orders of reformation. Looking to retake his country from, what he saw, were great evils (“Math is the language of Satin”, the battle cry.) Imam Hamid al-Ghazali led a violent fundimentalist take over and managed to plunge the Middle East into a Dark Age it still has yet to recover from.



Sadly, he does.



Today, despite all we've accomplished, we, too, are now standing at the edge of the precipice; our toes dangling over the edge of an abyss. Only with education and understanding can we find the path to a future for all mankind that will be to his potential, his own promise. But, as like my supervisor, we blunder along in ignorance, then that edge truly leads to the Hell he so fears; the bumbling meanderings of the ill informed and under educated making it a self fulfilling prophecy.

Deep in the heart...

I think it's been noted that the office has been... less than active, as of late. Why? It's a long story. But, in a week where I've nearly given up hope for the human race, Texas, of all places, has restored a little of my faith.

Thanks, y'all. I take back some of thr things I've said about you...

Time for some change?

Connecting the dots in just over two minutes...

Momma said...

Republican in Minnesota makes himself look like an arse

with some public name calling and his mom makes him apologize...

to Neil Gaiman.

Truth, Justice, and the... unAmerican way?

If you read comic books - and I assume you do, since you're here - then you've no doubt heard the news by now...

 

Naturally, some grab hold of the possible controversy and really run with it, while others take the time to really delve into the implications of the new global world taking shape though this iconic figure.

Of course, Supes is gonna find things a little more awkward abroad...

Geekdom loses another great one...

So long Jerry Lawson; hit the ultimate reset and is off to the big save point in the sky.

This may not seem like much to our younger readers, out there.
But Jerry's contribution was phenomenal; as anyone who
grew up with, say, Pong will attest to.

Mercury rising!

Just in case you didn't know, there's a satellite

- the first, EVER - currently orbiting Mercury.
It's getting some amazing pictures.

Welcome to Cecil Field spaceport!

Things that make you go "hmmmm"...

The end of the old year and the beginning of the new is usually the season for lists.

So, here's a list of 50 things we know now that we didn't know this time last year.

Health Reform: A Keith Olberman Speical comment

Few I know understand the health care reform issue as I do. I watched Momma Irons work so very hard to make sure I had the coverage to help me battle cancer as a teen. And now I watch her fight for the health care she so seriously needs... and deserves.. in her own health battles.

Please... PLEASE... I urge you to watch all 5 parts of this, and if you feel so moved, please support the National Association of Free Clinics.